A dynamic new era for youth engagement has begun with the official launch of YouthSOFTPOWER – Youth Engaged in European Soft Power, a cutting-edge Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership in Youth. Co-funded by the European Union and masterfully led by Consulta Europa, the project kicked off with a successful pre-online meeting on September 26th, uniting the full, diverse consortium.
This crucial two-year initiative addresses the urgent need to raise awareness among young Europeans about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Official Development Assistance (ODA). More than just education, the project is designed to actively equip young people with vital 21st-century skills in advocacy, digital communication, and leadership.
YouthSOFTPOWER brings together six distinct and expert organizations from five countries, creating a robust foundation for broad impact: Consulta Europa (Spain), Universidad de La Laguna (Spain), Liofyllo Social Cooperative Enterprise (Greece), Ecological and Innovation Association (Türkiye), Keuropa ry (Finland), and West Ukrainian National University (Ukraine).
At its core, YouthSOFTPOWER aims to significantly foster inclusion, cross-cultural dialogue, and powerful civic engagement. The project places a special focus on disadvantaged groups, including refugees, migrants, and NEET youth (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), by seamlessly combining innovative education, grassroots activism, and modern digital tools.
Over the next two years, the consortium will deliver a suite of high-impact, innovative results:
- A Comprehensive Digital Platform: Featuring rich educational resources on European values, SDGs, and ODA.
- Action Tools for Advocacy: Including a practical Youth Advocacy Guide and adaptable campaign templates for ODA-SDG promotion.
- Amplified Youth Voices: Producing youth-led podcasts, vlogs, and webinars to ensure young people’s perspectives on global issues are heard.
- Empowerment Training: Delivering targeted training activities, intensive bootcamps, and workshops to strengthen soft skills and actively empower youth as effective global citizens.
Each partner contributes unique strengths—from rigorous research and academic excellence to effective grassroots activism and digital innovation—guaranteeing a holistic and powerful foundation for maximum change.
Stay tuned as YouthSOFTPOWER unfolds! We are committed to sharing regular updates, empowering the next generation to take action, advocate for change, and shape a more just and sustainable future for all.